LAHORE, Aug 28: The PIAF-Founders Alliance on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto and pledged to press the government for putting an end to unjustified loadshedding, early construction of Kalabagh dam to ensure cheaper and uninterrupted supply of electricity, timely completion of Pak-Iran gas pipeline, institutional reforms and improving law and order situation.

The Alliance media committee leaders, including Iftikhar Ali and Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, talking to various business leaders here at PIAF-Founders election office said the body would make efforts for the implementation of its manifesto in letter and spirit.

They said the alliance had always advocated implementation of economic policies in consultation with the stakeholders for achieving the goals. They said acute power shortage had destroyed the economic fabric of the country and a large number of businesses had already shifted their operations abroad while poverty and unemployment were creating law and order situation in the country.

The Alliance leaders said early construction of Kalabagh dam could rid the country of these problems. They said unprecedented loadshedding had not only affected the exports but also hit the manufacturing sector hard.

They said early completion of Pak-Iran gas pipeline would help revive economic activities in the country, therefore, the government should spend its energies in this direction.

They also called for preparation and implementation of a well-tailored strategy to promote domestic and foreign private investment that had touched the lowest ebb only because of half-hearted policies.

They said due to the business community pressures, the State Bank of Pakistan had brought down the interest rates to 10.5 per cent and it would again be asked to bring it to a single digit to ensure availability of cheaper money to the private sector. They said it would not only enhance the local investors’ confidence but also encourage foreign investment in Pakistan.

Over deteriorating law and order situation in parts of the country, the Alliance leaders said peace was a prerequisite to investment, so the government should prepare a foolproof strategy to end daily killings and incidents of extortion.

They said due to ‘undue political interference’, the government institution had weakened and failed to produce desired results. They said the government would be asked to implement a code of conduct to stop this undue interference.

They said the Alliance had decided to launch ‘true businessmen’ in the upcoming LCCI elections scheduled for September 19 and 20 who would be tasked with ensuring relief to the business community and solve its problems at the earliest.